GlobeNewswire Inc | Apr 22, 2021 07:51AM EDT

April 22, 2021

SINGAPORE, April 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ASLAN Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:ASLN), a clinical-stage immunology focused biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments to transform the lives of patients, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020 and provided an update on its clinical development activities.

Dr Carl Firth, Chief Executive Officer, ASLAN Pharmaceuticals, said ASLAN made significant progress in the fourth quarter of 2020 and that momentum has carried over into 2021. After completing recruitment of the third cohort in our multiple ascending dose trial for ASLAN004 in the fourth quarter, we announced positive interim data supportive of its potential as a novel, first-in-class antibody targeting IL-13R with a differentiated efficacy and safety profile in atopic dermatitis. We are on track to complete enrolment of the expansion cohort with an additional 27 patients by mid-2021 and anticipate reporting topline data in the third quarter of 2021. At the same time, we are continuing to prepare for our Phase 2b study, which we expect to initiate in the second half of 2021. ASLAN is in a strong financial position with the necessary resources to fund its development activities to achieve important value creating milestones for shareholders.

Fourth quarter 2020 and recent business highlights

Clinical development

ASLAN004

-- In March 2021, ASLAN announced positive interim unblinded data from the three dose cohorts of the ongoing Phase 1 randomised, double-blind placebo controlled multiple ascending dose (MAD) study of ASLAN004 for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD). ASLAN004, a novel, first-in-class antibody, was well tolerated across all doses and showed improvements compared to placebo in all efficacy endpoints, supporting its potential as a differentiated treatment for AD.

ASLAN003

-- New data from a study conducted by the University of Liverpool, UK, published in the Toxicology in Vitro Journal, demonstrated that, out of a panel of six dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitors tested, ASLAN003 has the lowest potential for hepatotoxicity despite being one of the most potent inhibitors of DHODH.

Corporate updates

-- In March 2021, raised gross proceeds of approximately US$69 million, including the full exercise of an over-allotment option, through an underwritten public offering of 17,250,000 American Depositary Shares (ADSs) representing 86,250,000 ordinary shares at a price to the public of US$4.00 per ADS. -- In February 2021, raised gross proceeds of approximately US$18 million resulting from the sale of its ordinary shares through a private placement to new institutional investors, Vivo Capital and Surveyor Capital (a Citadel company). -- Between October 2020 and February 2021, raised gross proceeds of approximately US$21.5 million through at-the-market offerings. -- Appointed Neil Graham, MBBS, MD, MPH and Kathleen M. Metters, PhD as independent directors. Dr Graham is an expert in immunology and inflammation with more than 30 years experience in global drug development and commercialisation, including 10 years at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where he was instrumental in the development of dupilumab. Dr Metters has more than 30 years experience in the discovery and development of novel therapies for the treatment of chronic diseases, including autoimmune diseases. She held a number of senior positions at Merck & Co., previously leading work on External Discovery and Preclinical Sciences and was Senior Vice President and Head of Worldwide Basic Research.

Anticipated upcoming milestones

-- Completion of MAD clinical study of ASLAN004 in moderate-to-severe AD patients and topline clinical results expected in the third quarter of 2021. -- Initiation of Phase 2b study of ASLAN004 for AD expected in the second half of 2021.

Fourth quarter 2020 financial highlights

-- Cash used in operations for the fourth quarter of 2020 was US$5.1 million compared to US$5.1 million in the same period in 2019. -- Research and development expenses were US$2.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to US$2.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. -- General and administrative expenses were US$3.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to US$3.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. -- Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2020 was US$5.7 million compared to a net loss of US$29.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2019, which included a one-time impairment charge of US$23 million related to the write-down of varlitinib in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Full year 2020 financial highlights

-- Cash used in operations for the year ended 31 December 2020 was US$15.1 million compared to US$25.8 million in 2019. -- Research and development expenses were US$9.3 million for the full year 2020 compared to US$16.6 million in 2019. The decrease was driven by the completion of clinical studies related to varlitinib. -- General and administrative expenses were US$7.2 million for the full year 2020 compared to US$8.5 million in 2019. -- Net loss attributable to stockholders for the full year 2020 was US$16.2 million compared to a loss of US$47.0 million in 2019, which included a one-time impairment charge of US$23 million related to the write-down of varlitinib in the fourth quarter of 2019. Excluding the non-cash impairment charge, net loss for the full year 2019 was US$23.9 million. -- Cash and cash equivalents totaled US$14.3 million as of 31 December 2020, including US$7.4 million raised from at-the-market offerings in 2020, compared to US$22.2 million as of 31 December 2019. The cash balance as of year-end 2020 excludes proceeds from the additional financing activities completed in the first quarter of 2021 which raised combined gross proceeds of approximately US$101 million. With the additional financing activities in the first quarter of 2021, management believes that its cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund operations into 2023.The weighted average number of ADSs outstanding for the year 2020 was 38.4 million compared to 32.5 million for 2019. One ADS is the equivalent of five ordinary shares.



ASLAN Pharmaceuticals LimitedCONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS(In U.S. Dollars)

December 31, 2019 December 31, 2020 (audited) (audited)ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 22,203,031 $ 14,324,371 Other receivables - 528,841 Prepayments 68,923 511,208 Financial assets at fair value - 137,926 through profit or loss Total current assets 22,271,954 15,502,346 NON-CURRENT ASSETS Financial assets at fair value 68,256 - through profit or lossFinancial assets at fair value 132,160 - through other comprehensive incomeProperty, plant and equipment 38,333 13,387 Right-of-use assets 727,866 462,550 Intangible assets 2,845 160 Refundable deposits 108,076 103,307 Total non-current assets 1,077,536 579,404 TOTAL ASSETS $ 23,349,490 $ 16,081,750 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY CURRENT LIABILITIES Trade payables $ 1,871,843 $ 2,319,558 Other payables 3,246,842 4,280,409 Current portion of long-term - 2,900,971 borrowingCurrent portion of long-term - 617,912 borrowing from related partiesLease liabilities - current 264,543 271,624 Financial liabilities at fair value - 267,000 through profit or loss Total current liabilities 5,383,228 10,657,474 NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES Financial liabilities at fair value 262,350 - through profit or lossLong-term borrowings 17,065,305 15,183,421 Long-term borrowing from related 566,176 - partiesLease liabilities - non-current 490,835 281,149 Other non-current liabilities 184,870 111,990 Total non-current liabilities 18,569,536 15,576,560 Total liabilities 23,952,764 26,234,034 EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANYOrdinary shares 61,366,844 61,826,237 Capital surplus 116,495,710 123,582,460 Accumulated deficits (179,484,825 ) (195,682,714 )Other reserves (55,084 ) (178,948 ) Total equity attributable to (1,677,355 ) (10,452,965 )stockholders of the Company NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS 1,074,081 300,681 Total equity (603,274 ) (10,152,284 ) TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY $ 23,349,490 $ 16,081,750

ASLAN Pharmaceuticals LimitedCONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS(In U.S. Dollars, other than shares or share data)

Three Months Ended December 31 Twelve Months Ended December 31 (unaudited) (audited) 2019 2020 2019 2020 NET REVENUE $ - $ - $ 3,000,000 $ - COST OF REVENUE 17,741 - (407,259 ) - GROSS PROFIT 17,741 - 2,592,741 - OPERATING EXPENSESGeneral andadministrative (3,258,197 ) (3,033,267 ) (8,511,699 ) (7,169,177 )expensesResearch anddevelopment (2,702,625 ) (2,881,623 ) (16,586,617 ) (9,314,120 )expensesTotal operating (5,960,822 ) (5,914,890 ) (25,098,316 ) (16,483,297 )expenses Impairment losson intangible (23,073,400 ) - (23,073,400 ) - assets LOSS FROM (29,016,481 ) (5,914,890 ) (45,578,975 ) (16,483,297 )OPERATIONS NON-OPERATINGINCOME AND EXPENSESInterest income 6,193 154 150,610 592 Other income - 888,046 - 888,046 Other gains and (289,268 ) (321,729 ) (327,558 ) (129,299 )lossesFinance costs (293,110 ) (326,178 ) (901,612 ) (1,247,331 )Totalnon-operating (576,185 ) 240,293 (1,078,560 ) (487,992 )income andexpenses LOSS BEFORE (29,592,666 ) (5,674,597 ) (46,657,535 ) (16,971,289 )INCOME TAX INCOME TAX (12,712 ) (230,853 ) (408,002 ) - EXPENSE NET LOSS FOR THE (29,605,378 ) (5,905,450 ) (47,065,537 ) (16,971,289 )PERIODOTHERCOMPREHENSIVE LOSSItems that willnot bereclassified subsequently toprofit or loss:Unrealized losson investmentsin equityinstruments at (46,038 ) (49,533 ) (55,084 ) (123,864 )fair valuethrough othercomprehensiveincomeTOTALCOMPREHENSIVE $ (29,651,416 ) $ (5,954,983 ) $ (47,120,621 ) $ (17,095,153 )LOSS FOR THEPERIOD NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO:Stockholders of $ (29,555,808 ) $ (5,715,998 ) $ (47,015,967 ) $ (16,197,889 )the CompanyNon-controlling (49,570 ) (189,452 ) (49,570 ) (773,400 )interests $ (29,605,378 ) $ (5,905,540 ) $ (47,065,537 ) $ (16,971,289 )TOTALCOMPREHENSIVE LOSSATTRIBUTABLE TO:Stockholders of $ (29,601,846 ) $ (5,765,531 ) $ (47,071,051 ) $ (16,321,753 )the CompanyNon-controlling (49,570 ) (189,452 ) (49,570 ) (773,400 )interests $ 29,651,416 ) $ (5,954,983 ) $ (47,120,621 ) $ (17,095,153 )LOSS PER ORDINARY SHAREBasic and $ (0.18 ) $ (0.03 ) $ (0.29 ) $ (0.08 )dilutedLOSS PER EQUIVALENT ADSBasic and $ (0.90 ) $ (0.15 ) $ (1.45 ) $ (0.40 )diluted Weighted-averagenumber ofordinary sharesin the 168,753,687 199,066,161 162,392,602 192,226,528 computation ofbasic loss perordinary shareEach ADSrepresents five ordinary shares.

Media and IR contacts Emma Thompson Robert UhlSpurwing Communications Westwicke PartnersTel: +65 6751 2021 Tel: +1 858 356 5932Email: ASLAN@spurwingcomms.com Email: robert.uhl@westwicke.com

About ASLAN PharmaceuticalsASLAN Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:ASLN) is a clinical-stage immunology focused biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments to transform the lives of patients. Led by a senior management team with extensive experience in global development and commercialisation, ASLAN has a clinical portfolio comprised of a first-in-class monoclonal therapy, ASLAN004, that is being developed in atopic dermatitis and other immunology indications, and ASLAN003, which it plans to develop for autoimmune disease. For additional information please visit www.aslanpharma.com.

Forward looking statements

This release and the accompanying financial information, if any, contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of the management of ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Limited and/or its affiliates (the "Company"). These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Companys business strategy and clinical development plans; the Companys plans to develop and commercialise ASLAN004 and ASLAN003; the safety and efficacy of ASLAN004 and ASLAN003; the Companys plans and expected timing with respect to clinical trials and clinical trial results for ASLAN004 and ASLAN003; the Companys plans and expected timing with respect to regulatory filings and approvals, and the size and growth potential of the markets for ASLAN004 and ASLAN003; the potential for ASLAN004 as a novel, first-in-class antibody targeting IL-13R with a differentiated efficacy and safety profile in atopic dermatitis; and the Companys belief that its cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund operations into 2023. The Companys estimates, projections and other forward-looking statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations of future events and trends, which affect or may affect the Companys business, strategy, operations or financial performance, and inherently involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of many risks and uncertainties, which include, unexpected safety or efficacy data observed during preclinical or clinical studies; clinical site activation rates or clinical trial enrolment rates that are lower than expected; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Companys business and the global economy; general market conditions; changes in the competitive landscape; and the Companys ability to obtain sufficient financing to fund its strategic and clinical development plans. Other factors that may cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements are described in the Companys US Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports (Commission File No. 001-38475), including the Companys Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on April 16, 2020.

All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The words believe, may, might, could, will, aim, estimate, continue, anticipate, intend, expect, plan, or the negative of those terms, and similar expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes are intended to identify estimates, projections and other forward-looking statements. Estimates, projections and other forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made, and, except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or review any estimate, projection or forward-looking statement.